For a minute or two think
of how it must have been like for some of the disciples of our Lord to have
been able to perform miracles for the first time in their life. When the
seventy returned unto Jesus, they said:  Lord, even the devils are
subject unto us through thy name (Luke 10:17). After Jesus assured
them that they would have power over the hosts of Satan, He made the following
unexpected statement unto them: Notwithstanding in this rejoice not,
that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names
are written in heaven (Luke 10:20). What the Son of God said unto
them on that occasion would be the most significant thing that could be said
about anyone. That our name is written in Heaven!

We love to sing the old
hymn: When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder. The inspired Word
of God certainly portrays a roll or a book of life up yonder in Heaven.

Phil. 4:3, And
I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me
in the gospel, with Clement also and with other my fellow laborers, whose
names are in the book of life.

Discussion:

I.TO KEEP A ROLL HERE UPON EARTH OF THE MEMBERS OF A LOCAL CONGREGATION
IS THE PROPER AND FEASIBLE THING TO DO. (These rolls of those brethren
identified with a particular congregation of the church of our Lord are
usually referred to as a: Membership Book or a Church Directory.)

A.The Jerusalem church members were counted.

Acts 2:41, Then
they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were
added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 4:4, Howbeit
many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was
about five thousand.

Acts 6:1, And
the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in
Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the
faith.

B.It is as though the Lord went down the list of names in the church
at Sardis when He said unto them: Thou hast a few names even in
Sardis which have not defiled their garments (Rev. 3:4).

C.
Elders are taught to be overseers of their congregation.

Acts 20:28, Take
heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy
Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath
purchased with his own blood.

1.It is easier to oversee a local church, if the elders have a list of
the membership. This promotes order, which is commanded.

1 Cor. 14:40, Let
all things be done decently and in order.

2.Not only should the elders, as the overseers of a local congregation,
know all those within its membership; but the members should know those who
rule over them.

Heb. 13:7, 17, Remember
them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God:
whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation [manner of life]

Obey them that have
the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as
they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with
grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

1 Thess. 5:12, And
we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you
in the Lord and admonish you;

II.GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR LOCAL CHURCHES; THUS, IT IS HIS WILL THAT EVER
OBEDIENT BELIEVER BE A MEMBER OF A CONGREGATION.

A.The Apostle Paul saw this need, and sought to identify himself with the
church at Jerusalem.

Acts 9:26, And
when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples.

1.He was already a member of the body of Christ, His church.

2.He merely joined himself to the local group of disciples.

3.This is usually referred to as placing membership with a particular
congregation of the church of our Lord.

B.The New Testament church has no organization here upon earth above the
local congregation.

Phil. 1:1,  to
all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and
deacons.

C.The local church is the only organization of the Lord to discipline its
members.

Matt. 18:17, And
if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect
to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

2 Thess. 3:6, Now
we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye
withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after
the tradition which he received of us.

1.There is no organization above the local congregation to
exercise church discipline.

2.If it was a scriptural withdrawal then sister congregations must
recognize and honor the withdrawal from an erring brother or sister in Christ.

D.The gospel of Christ is to be proclaimed and upheld by the local
church. Organizations such as the Missionary Society are unscriptural and
therefore unauthorized.

1 Tim. 3:15,  the
church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Acts 13:1-3, Now
there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as
Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen,
which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they
ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas
and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted
and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

E.Since God has provided for the existence of the local church, you and I
should be members of one.

III.THERE IS MUCH MISUNDERSTANDING RELATIVE TO NAMES ON CHURCH ROLLS.

A.The fact that ones name has been added to a local church roll is not
any proof that God has added that person to His church.

1.It is mans business to do the baptizing (Matt. 28:19-20),
and Gods business to do the adding to the universal church (Acts 2:47).

B.The fact that brethren leave a name on a church roll here on earth is
no proof that God is going to leave it on the roll up yonder.

1.Names once entered in the roll up there can be removed!

Rev. 3:5, He
that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not
blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before
my Father, and before his angels.

Rev. 22:19, And
if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God
shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city,
and from the thing which are written in this book.

2.God is looking after this matter and will handle it properly.

C.The important thing is to have your name on the roll up yonder (Phil.
4:3), and to keep it there (Rev. 3:5).

Phil. 4:3, And
I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me
in the gospel, with Clement also and with other my fellow laborers, whose
names are in the book of life.

Rev. 3:5, He
that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not
blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before
my Father, and before his angels.

1.But many think that if their name is on a church roll here on earth all
is well with their soul no matter how they live. This is false security!

D.The false conception of rolls and letters seems to be increasing.

1.Some have a misunderstanding about moving letters.

2.We do not keep letters of members. A letter is a recommendation; and
of course, we are happy to give such to worthy Christians.

3.Too often we hear, I moved my letter!well, what did they move?

4.There are Biblical examples of letters of recommendation.

Rom. 16:1-4, I commend unto you Phebe: our sister, which is a servant
of the church which is at Cenchrea: That ye receive her in the Lord, as
becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need
of you: for she hath been a succourer [helper] of many, and of myself also.
Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life
laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the
churches of the Gentiles.

(In
Pauls letter to Philemon he encouraged Philemon to receive Onesimus back
as a brother. He praised Onesimus unto Philemon as having been profitable
unto him.)

IV.EACH AND EVERY MEMBER IN THE BODY OF CHRIST IS IMPORTANT UNTO THE LORD.

A.The Son of God emphasizes that He does not want one single soul lost.

Matt. 18:11-14, For
the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? If a man
have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the
ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone
astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth
more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even
so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these
little ones should perish.

1 Tim. 2:3-4, For
this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all
men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

2 Pet. 3:9, The
Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance.

B.We are not only to pray for laborers to go forth harvesting souls, but
we are to be personally involved in doing so.

Matt. 9:35-39, And
Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues,
and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every
disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with
compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep
having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is
plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the
harvest, that he will send forth laborers into the harvest.

C.Each and every soul is worth more than the entire physical universe.
This is true because we have been created in the image of God.

Matt. 16:26, For
what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Gen. 1:26-27, And
God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the
cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth
upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God
created he him; male and female created he them.

Closing:

An individuals name is
written in Heaven when that precious soul obeys the gospel of Christ. After
that, they should remain faithful so that their name will not be blotted out
of the book of life